Raft and Longline Culture of Green Mussel, Perna viridis, in Cañas Bay, Iloilo, Philippines

Abstract

Grow-out methods like the raft and longline have been utilized by various countries in growing green mussel, Perna viridis. In the Philippines, the stake method using bamboo poles is still widely used, which is believed to cause siltation that negatively affects green mussel production. In this study, the feasibility of raft and longline methods was determined based on mussel growth and the condition index (CI). Environmental conditions in Cañas Bay, Iloilo were also presented. Results showed that there was no significant difference in mussel growth except for final weight, where mussels in the raft were found to be significantly heavier than those in the longline. Meanwhile, the CI of mussels did not significantly differ between the two methods. Physico-chemical parameters of the water in Cañas Bay were found to be suitable for growing green mussels. Phytoplankton was composed of diatoms (86%), dinoflagellates (6%), green algae (5%), and blue-green algae (3%). This study showed the feasibility of using suspended methods like raft and longline in areas where environmental conditions favor mussel growth.